The redshift and broad band spectral energy distribution of NRAO 150

Context. NRAO 150 is one of the brightest radio and mm AGN sources on the northern sky. It has been revealed as an interesting source where to study extreme relativistic jet phenomena. However, its cosmological distance has not been reported so far, because of its optical faintness produced by strong Galactic extinction. Aims. Aiming at measuring the redshift of NRAO 150, and hence to start making possible quantitative studies from the source. Methods. We have conducted spectroscopic and photometric observations of the source in the near-IR, as well as in the optical. Results. All such observations have been successful in detecting the source. The near-IR spectroscopic observations reveal strong H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ emission lines from which the cosmological redshift of NRAO 150 ($z=1.517\pm0.002$) has been determined for the first time. We classify the source as a flat-spectrum radio-loud quasar, for which we estimate a large super-massive black-hole mass $\sim5\times 10^{9} \mathrm{M_\odot}$. After extinction correction, the new near-IR and optical data have revealed a high-luminosity continuum-emission excess in the optical (peaking at $\sim2000$\,\AA, rest frame) that we attribute to thermal emission from the accretion disk for which we estimate a high accretion rate, $\sim30$\,% of the Eddington limit. Conclusions. Comparison of these source properties, and its broad-band spectral-energy distribution, with those of Fermi blazars allow us to predict that NRAO 150 is among the most powerful blazars, and hence a high luminosity -although not detected yet- $\gamma$-ray emitter.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Prevents the Downregulation of the Cholinergic Phenotype in Axotomized Motoneurons of the Adult Rat

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was initially characterized by its activity on the vascular system. However, there is growing evidence indicating that VEGF also acts as a neuroprotective factor, and that its administration to neurons suffering from trauma or disease is able to rescue them from cell death. We questioned whether VEGF could also maintain damaged neurons in a neurotransmissive mode by evaluating the synthesis of their neurotransmitter, and whether its action would be direct or through its well-known angiogenic activity. Adult rat extraocular motoneurons were chosen as the experimental model. Lesion was performed by monocular enucleation and immediately a gelatine sponge soaked in VEGF was implanted intraorbitally. After 7 days, abducens, trochlear, and oculomotor nuclei were examined by immunohistochemistry against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the biosynthetic enzyme of the motoneuronal neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Lesioned motoneurons exhibited a noticeable ChAT downregulation which was prevented by VEGF administration. To explore whether this action was mediated via an increase in blood vessels or in their permeability, we performed immunohistochemistry against laminin, glucose transporter-1 and the plasmatic protein albumin. The quantification of the immunolabeling intensity against these three proteins showed no significant differences between VEGF-treated, axotomized and control animals. Therefore, the present data indicate that VEGF is able to sustain the cholinergic phenotype in damaged motoneurons, which is a first step for adequate neuromuscular neurotransmission, and that this action seems to be mediated directly on neurons since no sign of angiogenic activity was evident. These data reinforces the therapeutical potential of VEGF in motoneuronal diseases.España, MINECO and FEDER BFU2015-64515-PJunta de Andalucía and FEDER : P10-CVI605

Biosorption of Chromium (VI) from Aqueous Solutions onto Fungal Biomass

The biosorption of chromium (VI) on eighteen different natural biosorbents: Natural sediment, chitosan, chitin, Aspergillus flavus I-V, Aspergillus fumigatus I-ll, Helmintosporium sp, Cladosporium sp, Mucor rouxii mutant, M. rouxii IM-80, Mucor sp-I and 2, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans was studied in this work. It was found that the biomass of C. neoformans, natural sediment, Helmintosporium sp and chitosan was more efficient to remove chromium (VI) (determined spectrophotometrically at 540 nm using diphenylcarbazide as the complexing agent) achieving the. following percentage of removals: 98%, 98% and 63%, respectively. The highest adsorption was obtained with C. neoformans and Helmintosporium sp at pH 2.0 and 4.0 + 0.2, respectively, at 28∘C after 24 hours of incubation, with 0.2 mg/L of cellular biomass

Electromagnetic multipole moments of elementary spin-1/2, 1, and 3/2 particles

We study multipole decompositions of the electromagnetic currents of spin-1/2, 1, and 3/2 particles described in terms of Lagrangians designed to reproduce representation specific wave equations which are second order in the momenta and which emerge within the recently elaborated Poincar\'e covariant projector method. We calculate the electric multipoles of the above spins for the spinor, the four-vector, and the four-vector--spinor representations, attend to the most general non-Lagrangian spin-3/2 currents which are allowed by Lorentz invariance to be of third order in the momenta and construct the linear current equivalent of identical multipole moments of one of them. We conclude that such non-Lagrangian currents are not necessarily more general than the two-term currents emerging within the covariant projector method. We compare our results with those of the conventional Proca-, and Rarita-Schwinger frameworks. Finally, we test the representation dependence of the multipoles by placing spin-1 and spin-3/2 in the respective (1,0)$\oplus$(0,1), and (3/2,0)$\oplus$(0,3/2) single-spin representations. We observe representation independence of the charge monopoles and the magnetic dipoles, in contrast to the higher multipoles, which turn out to be representation dependent. In particular, we find the bi-vector $(1,0)\oplus (0,1)$ to be characterized by an electric quadrupole moment of opposite sign to the one found in $(1/2,1/2)$, and consequently, to the $W$ boson. Our finding points toward the possibility that the $\rho$ meson could transform as part of an antisymmetric tensor with an $a_{1}$ meson-like state as its representation companion.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figure

Costos de la otitis media aguda en niños de una ciudad de la costa caribe colombiana

Acute otitis media is the main cause of consultation, antibiotic use, and ambulatory surgery in developed countries; besides, it is associated with an important economic burden. However, non-medical indirect costs of acute otitis media, which are relevant in this pathology, have been underestimatedLa otitis media aguda es la principal causa de consultas médicas, de uso de antibióticos y de cirugías ambulatorias en los países desarrollados. Está asociada con una significativa carga económica, pero sus costos indirectos no médicos, los cuales son relevantes en esta enfermedad, se han subestimad

On singular perturbations of flexible and variable-speed wind turbines

A model for the mechanical dynamics of a wind turbine is developed, which is the composition of three physical mechanisms: flexion, torsion, and rotational dynamics. A first contribution is the identification of the essential physical parameters that provide a time-scale separation of these three mechanisms. Under the assumption of singular perturbations the time-scale separation allows to work with a reduced model of order one. This reduction has been essential for the control of this system allowing to control designers to take into account only the reduced-order model. A second contribution consists in employing a measurement of the fore-aft nacelle acceleration with the reduced model, together with a Kalman filter to estimate the flexible DOFs of the system (tower and average blade deflection). The successful approach is tested on high-order nonlinear aeroelastic simulator (FAST)

Green Synthesis of Metallic and Carbon Nanostructures

The technological and biomedical applications of low toxicity and eco-friendly organic compounds are nowadays increasingly attracting the attention of researchers in nanoscience, who are aiming for more biocompatible and nanostructured systems for their application in antineoplastic therapies. This study presents the significance of “green components” in the production of graphene, metallic, and semiconductor nanoparticles, due to their antioxidant and antitumor properties. The formation of nanostructures is caused during green synthesis methods by organic molecules or carboxylic acid groups present in some plant extracts; for this reason, we include here a recapitulation and analysis of the role of carboxylic acids in those systems (organic). Furthermore, we propose the use of the extract from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes to obtain metallic and carbon nanostructures, as an alternative biosynthesis method for the development of future nanobiotechnological applications

First record of the genus Leptodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Cuba: Leptodactylus fragilis, a biological invasion?

The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians

Rendimiento y composición bromatológica de Setaria sphacelata cv Nandi, en tres edades de rebrote

El objetivo del trabajo de investigación fue evaluar el efecto de la edad de rebrote en el rendimiento y composición bromatológica del pasto Setaria sphacelata, en dos condiciones de fertilidad del suelo. El experimento se realizó en un área de 361 m² de pasto establecido en un suelo de textura franco arenosa, con un pH fuertemente acido (5.15), y un nivel alto de materia orgánica (7.09 %). Se usó un Diseño Completamente Randomizado con arreglo factorial 3 x 2 y tres repeticiones, donde los factores en estudio fueron 3 edades de rebrote y 2 niveles de fertilización. Se obtuvieron 6 tratamientos con tres repeticiones, que recibieron riego por aspersión para mantener una humedad del suelo constante durante el estudio. Las variables evaluadas fueron el rendimiento de materia fresca (MF), materia seca (MS), proteína cruda (PC), fibra cruda (FC) y Cenizas. Los resultados evidenciaron que hubo efectos de la edad de rebrote y la fertilización p ≤ 0.05, mas no así para la interacción de la edad por fertilización. Los mayores rendimientos de MF y MS (7987.1 y 1639.4 kg/ha) se obtuvieron con el tratamiento fertilizado y cosechado a los 60 días, mientras que el menor rendimiento fue para el tratamiento sin fertilización y cosechado a los 30 días con 1973.7 Kg/MF/Ha y 469.8 Kg/MS/Ha. Los valores más altos de proteína se registraron en los pastos cosechados a los 30 días (14.8 y 12.2 % PC) para el pasto fertilizado y sin fertilizaciónque disminuyeron significativamente (p ≤ 0.05) a medida que avanzó la edad. Asimismo, los valores de fibra cruda se incrementaron notablemente (p ≤ 0.05) al transcurrir los días de rebrote y se obtuvieron los porcentajes más altos a los 60 días con 24.9 y 25.3 % para los pastos fertilizados y sin fertilización. La edad de rebrote no causó efecto en los valores de cenizas. Sin embargo, la fertilización manifestó un efecto significativo en el porcentaje de cenizas a los 45 días en los pastos fertilizados y sin fertilizar. Se concluye que, a medida que avanza la edad del pasto Setaria sphacelata, el rendimiento de materia fresca y seca tienden a incrementarse, pero su valor nutricional se ve afectado en la disminución de los valores de proteína (PC) y el aumento del valor de fibra (FC). Además, la fertilización produce efectos en la producción de materia fresca y seca que incrementan los rendimientos significativamente, pero reduce el porcentaje de cenizas